Hackensack officer cleared in shooting of murder suspect Jose Santos-Alvarez

State and Bergen County authorities say an investigation has concluded that a Hackensack police officer was justified in shooting a knife-wielding murder suspect last year. The unnamed officer shot

News 12 Staff

Dec 30, 2016, 5:28 AM

Updated 2,808 days ago

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State and Bergen County authorities say an investigation has concluded that a Hackensack police officer was justified in shooting a knife-wielding murder suspect last year.
The unnamed officer shot and injured Jose Santos-Alvarez after confronting him in a house in Hackensack on Oct. 15, 2015.
Santos-Alvarez was wanted in connection with the deaths of his ex-girlfriend Monika Potoczniak and their 4-year-old son Christopher Potoczniak a week earlier in Jersey City.
Other officers said Santos-Alvarez pointed the knife at his own neck before pointing it at the officer. Santos-Alvarez told investigators he was trying to take his own life and was re-positioning the knife when he was shot.
The Bergen County Prosecutor's Office concluded the use of deadly force was justified, and the state attorney general's office agreed.
The Associated Press wire services contributed to this report.